Police: Man Stole Purse From 70-Year-Old Woman In The Bronx

A sketch of a man wanted for robbing an elderly woman in the Bronx. (credit: NYPD)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Police in the Bronx were looking Wednesday for a purse-snatcher who recently targeted a 70-year-old woman with a walker.

As CBS 2’s John Slattery reported, the incident happened last Friday around 1:40 p.m., in a New York City Housing Authority building near Webster Avenue and East 183rd Street in the Belmont section of the borough.

“I was just shocked,” the woman said. “I didn’t think.”

The woman, who didn’t want to be identified, was still rattled five days later. Prior to the attack, the robber boarded an elevator with the woman and rode to her floor.

The victim, who had just been to her doctor and picked up a cake for her church, was about to open her door when she was approached from behind by the man.

“He just came behind me, knocked my hand away, and grabbed by pocketbook and ran,” and said “nothing,” she said.

The woman was not injured, but on Wednesday in the building’s lobby, a letter carrier was assaulted and hurt by a man who was described as considerably taller.

The victim on the upper floor was angry she was targeted.

“He needs help, and I think he needs to be arrested and put away, because he hits someone old enough to be his mother or grandmother,” she said.

A number of residents in the building have walkers.

“He’s a bully,” said resident Jaqueline Ivy. ”Hitting an old woman, doing something like that, going out for herself on a walker.”

The suspect is believed to be in his 20s, about 5-foot-5 with short brown hair.

The suspect was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, white jeans, and black sneakers, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.